Newsmaker of the week, Billy Joel

Odds are you didn’t, considering the surprise show at the 1,600-seat venue – announced just two hours before tickets went on sale – sold out in what seemed like seconds.

It was minutes, actually, but however you time it, Joel’s return to the stage on his native Long Island gave us all a rush, whether or not we got tickets.

Joel hadn’t performed here in 11 years, but he had been practicing at the Paramount in recent weeks for his upcoming European tour and decided to reward his most loyal fans with a dress rehearsal.

By all accounts, he didn’t disappoint. Playing a mix of his greatest hits and some of his more obscure B-side stuff, Joel showed why he still holds the record for most consecutive sellouts in Madison Square Garden history.